The Washington critic., 1887-08-27

silent shore during his second term.
With that firm conviction which no
philosophy could shake, Mr.. Lincoln
moved on through the maze of mighty
events, calmly awaiting the inevitable
hour OF his fall by murdcrOus hand.
How, II may be asked. could he make
life tolcrnble burdened as he was with
that sacrificinl horror, which, though
visionary, and of trltllng import In our
eyes, was, by his Interpretation, pre-.
monition of impending doom2 Ian.
swer IN a word: His sense of duty to
his country; his belief that 1.-The In
evitable" Is right; and his innate and
irrepressibe humor.
But the most startling incident In the
life of Mr.. Lincoln was dream he
had only few days before his assassi.
ration. To him II was q thing of
was ever fashioned more exactly like
dread reality. Coupled With other
dreams, with the mirror scene and
with other incidents which l have not
space for recording here, there was
something about 1t so amazingly real
istic, SO true to the actual tragedy
which occurred coon after, that more
than mortal strength and wisdom would
have been required to let II pass with.
out shudder or pang. After worry.
ing over 1t for some days Mr.. Lincoln
seemed no longer able to keep the
secret. give 1t as nearly in his own
words as | can from notes which
made Immediately after its recital.
VISIONS IN THE BIBLE.
There were only two or three listen.
ers. Mr.. Lincoln was in melancholy,
meditative mood. and had been silent
for some time. Mrs. Lincoln, who
was present, rallied him on his solemn
visage and want of spirit. This seemed
TO arouse him, aud, without seeming to
notice her sally, he said, In slow aud
measured tones: at seems strange how
much there Is In the Bible about
dreams There are, think. some six.
teen chapters in the Old Testament,
and four or five in the New, In which
dreams are mentioned; and there are
many other passages scattered through
ont the book which refer to visions.
II we believe the Bible we must accept
the fact that In the old days God and
and made themselves known In dreams.
Now days dreams are regarded ms
very foolish, and are seldom told ex
cept by old women and BY young men
and maidens In love"
Mrs. Lincoln here remarked, "Why,
you look dreadfully solemn; do you be.
lieve in dreams ?"
II can't say that dc" returned Mr..
Lincoln, "but had one the other night
which has haunted me ever since. After
II occurred. the first time l opened the
Bible, strange as 1t may appear, 1t was
AT the XNVIIlth chapter of Genesis,
which relates to the wonderful dream
Jacob had / turned to other passages
and seemed to encounter dream or a
vision wherever | looked. | kept on
turning the leaves Of the old book and
everywhere my eye iell upon passages
recording matters strangely In keeping
with my own thoughts-supernat
visitations, dreams, visions, &c"
He now looked so serious and dis.
turbed that Mrs. Lincoln exclaimed
You frighten me. What is the mat.
ter 2"
Il am afraid" said Mr.. Lincoln, oh.
serving the effect his words had upon
his wife, chat | have done wrong tC
mention the subject at all but somehow
| the thing has got possession of me; and
like Banquo's ghost 1t will not down.
This only inllamed Mrs. Lincoln s
curiosity the more, and while bravely
disclaiming any belief In dreams, she
strongly urged him to tell the dream
which seemed to have such a holC
upon him, being seconded In this by
| another listener. Mr.. Lincoln hesitated
but at length commenced, very dellb
| erately, his brow overcast with shadl
of melancholy.
MIR. LINCOLN RELATES his DREAM.
about ten days ago." said he, al
retired very late. had been up wait
ing for important dispatches from the
front. l could not have been long II
bed when fell into slumber, for
was weary. l soon began to dream
There seemed to be q death like still
noss about me. Then heard subduet
s)bs, as if number of people wer,
weeping. l thought left my bed an(
wandered down stairs. There th,
silence was broken by the same pitfu
sobbing, but the mourners were iIvisi
Bile. j went from room TO room, NJ
living person was In sight, but tn,
same mournful sounds of distress me
me as passed along. 1t was light II
oil the rooms; every object was familiar
10 me but where were al
the people who were griev
ing as II their hearts woult
break / was puzzled and alarmed
What could be the meaning of all this
Determined to find the cause of u stat
of things so mysterious and so shock
End Room, which l entered. Their
! met with sickening surprise. b
fore me was catafalque, on whicl
rested acorpse wrapped in funereal vest
menis. Around 1t were stationed sol
diers, who were acting as guards, an,
there was a throng OF people, som
gazing mournfully upon the corpse
whose face was covered; others weep
ing pitifully. Who is dead In tn
White House2' / demanded OF one o
the soldiers. The President was hi
answer. He was killed by an assassin
Then came loud burst of grief fror
the crowd, which awoke me from IN
dream. slept no more that might
and although 1t was only dream,
have been strangely annoyed by it eve
since"
THAT Is horridl" said Mrs Lincoln
Il wish you had not told 1t. au
glad | don't believe in dreams, or
should bo in terror from this tim
forth
swell" responded Mr.. Lincoln, though
fully, "it's only dream, Mary. Let u
cay no more about 1t, aud try to forget u
abeut II.
| ,TLis droa,,, ,vos so borriI,Ia GO r,,l al,